Men's Basketball Falters in Regional Final

LANSING, Mich. - Great Lakes Christian College men’s basketball came up short in the NCCAA DII Midwest Regional championship game on Saturday, losing 77-65 to Grace Christian University at the Doty Center.

Grace jumped out to a double-digit lead in the first half, 20-10, but an eight-point run sparked GLCC to take a 24-23 lead with 8:56 left in the half. Grace recaptured the lead, but the Lakes stayed close and a Jalen Johnson bucket in the final minute of the period put the hosts back in front, where they would stay into halftime, 39-36.

Grace shot the lights out in the second half, making 14 of 25 (56%) field goals, including four of their nine three-pointers (44.4%). They re-took the lead at the 14:22 mark and never conceded it. GLCC, for their part, struggled from the floor after halftime, shooting 8/27 (29.6%) on field goals. Grace closed the game on a 12-4 run and clinched their 18th regional title in program history.

Darien Banks led GLCC with 12 points on 3/16 (.188) shooting. Bankeys Omari paced Grace with 20.

Great Lakes will now await the final NCCAA DII poll, where they will hope to receive an at-large bid to the national championship tournament.